Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Selected Quotes from Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Some Think that Hatha Yoga is only about Asanas and Pranamayam. Here are some verses form Hatha Yoga Pradipika, which talk about Brahman or Siva

H.Y.P. 4.23: Breathing is lessened when the mind becomes absorbed, & the mind becomes absorbed when the Prâṇa is restrained.

H.Y.P. 4.24: Both the mind and the breath are united together, like milk and water; and both of them are equal in their activities. Mind begins its activities where there is the breath, and the Parana begins its activities where there is the mind.

H.Y.P. 4.24: Laya (moksha) is simply then forgetting of the objects of senses when the Vâsanâs do not rise into existence again.

H.Y.P. 4.36: Aiming at Brahman inwardly, while keeping the sight directed to the external objects, without blinking the eyes, is called the Sâmbhavî Mudrâ, hidden in the Vedas and the Sâstras.

H.Y.P. 4.37: When the Yogî remains inwardly attentive to the Brahman, keeping the mind and the Prâṇa absorbed, and the sight steady, as if seeing everything while in reality seeing nothing outside, below, or above, verily then it is called the Sâmbhavî Mudrâ, which is learnt by the favour of a guru. Whatever, wonderful, Sûnya or Asûnya is perceived, is to be regarded as the manifestation of that great Śambhû (Śiva.)

H.Y.P. 4.38: The two states, the Sâmbhavî and the Khecharî, are different because of their seats (being the heart and the space between the eyebrows respectively); but both cause happiness, for the mind becomes absorbed in the Chita-sukha-Rupa-âtmana which is void.

H.Y.P. 4.39: Fix the gaze on the light (seen on the tip of the nose) and raise the eyebrows a little, with the mind contemplating as before (in the Śambhavî Mudrâ, that is, inwardly thinking of Brahma, but apparently looking outside.) This will create the Unmanî avasthâ at once.

H.Y.P. 4.40: Some are devoted to the Vedas, some to Nigama, while others are enwrapt in Logic, but none knows the value of this mudrâ, which enables one to cross the ocean of existence.

H.Y.P. 4.41: With steady calm mind and half closed eyes, fixed on the tip of the nose, stopping the Idâ and the Pingalâ without blinking, he who can see the light which is the all, the seed, the entire brilliant, great Tatwama, approaches Him, who is the great object. What is the use of more talk?

H.Y.P. 4.42: One should not meditate on the Linga (i.e., Âtman) in the day (i.e., while Sûrya or Pingalâ is working) or at night (when Idâ is working), but should always contemplate after restraining both.

H.Y.P. 4.50: Freeing the mind from all thoughts and thinking of nothing, one should sit firmly like a pot in the space (surrounded and filled with the ether).

H.Y.P. 4.54: Placing the mind into the Kuṇḍalini, and getting the latter into the mind, by looking upon the Buddhi (intellect) with mind (reflexively), the Param Pada (Brahma) should be obtained.

H.Y.P. 4.55: Keep the âtmâ inside the Kha (Brahma) and place Brahma inside your âtmâ. Having made everything pervaded with Kha (Brahma), think of nothing else.

H.Y.P. 4.56: One should become void in and void out, and voice like a pot in the space. Full in and full outside, like a jar in the ocean.

H.Y.P. 4.57: He should be neither of his inside nor of outside world; and, leaving all thoughts, he should think of nothing.

H.Y.P. 4.58: The whole of this world and all the schemes of the mind are but the creations of thought. Discarding these thoughts and taking leave of all conjectures, O Râma! obtain peace.

H.Y.P. 4.59: As camphor disappears in fire, and rock salt in water, so the mind united with the âtmâ loses its identity.

H.Y.P. 4.60: When the knowable, and the knowledge, are both destroyed equally, then there is no second way (i.e., Duality is destroyed)

H.Y.P. 4.61: All this movable & immovable world is mind. When the mind has attained 2 unmanî avasthâ, there is no dwaita (Mind absent)

H.Y.P. 4.62: Mind disappears by removing the knowable, and, on its disappearance, âtmâ only remains behind.

H.Y.P. 4.77: The union of the mind and the sound is called the Râja-Yoga. - Hatha Yoga Pradipika 4.77

*Sound is heard in Susumna when 3 granthis are destroyed

H.Y.P. 4.79: Those who are ignorant of the Râja-Yoga & practise only the Haṭha-Yoga, will, in my opinion, waste their energy fruitlessly.

H.Y.P. 4.80: Contemplation on the space between the eyebrows is, in my
opinion, best for accomplishing soon the Unmanî state. For people of
small intellect, it is a very easy method for obtaining perfection in
the Raja-Yoga. The Laya produced by nâda, at once gives experience (of
spiritual powers).

H.Y.P. 4.90: Just as bee drinking sweet juice doesNot care 4 flower smell so the mind, absorbed in the nâda, does not desire objects of enjoyment.

H.Y.P. 4.101: So long as the sounds continue, there is the idea of âkâśa. When they disappear, then it is called Para Brahma, Paramâtmana.

H.Y.P. 4.102: Whatever is heard in the form of nâda, is śakti (power). That which is formless, the final state of the Tatwas, is Parameśwara.